Effect of Bacillus circulans D1 thermostable xylanase on biobleaching of eucalyptus kraft pulp

The alkalophilic Bacillus circulans D1 was isolated from decayed wood. It produced high levels of extracellular cellulase-free xylanase. The enzyme was thermally stable up to 60°C, with an optimal hydrolysis temperature of 70°C. It was stable over a wide pH range (5.5-10.5), with an optimum pH at 5.5 and 80% of its activity at pH 9.0. This cellulase-free xylanase preparation was used to biobleach kraft pulp. Enzymatic treatment of kraft pulp decreased chlorine dioxide use by 23 and 37% to obtain the same kappa number (κ number) and brightness, respectively. Separation on Sephadex G-50 isolated three fractions with xylanase activity with distinct molecular weights.

Keywords

Bacillus circulans, Biobleaching, Kraft pulp, Thermophilic, Xylanase, cellulase, chlorine dioxide, enzyme, sephadex, xylan endo 1,3 beta xylosidase, bleaching, brightness, conference paper, enzyme activity, enzyme isolation, enzyme stability, Eucalyptus, extracellular space, hydrolysis, isolation procedure, molecular weight, nonhuman, pH, pulp processing, separation technique, temperature, thermostability, wood, Bacillus, Biotechnology, Cellulase, Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases, Enzyme Stability, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hydrolysis, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, Xylans, Xylosidases